Though instead of even thinking about retirement, Blake is instead going about proving he still belongs. Sunday’s second-round 7-6 (6), 6-4 loss to eighth-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did little to change that.

If anything, Blake said it’s evidence he can still go toe-to-toe with the top players in the world.

“I definitely feel that I can win any match when I step on that court,” said Blake, who had lost to Tsonga in each of their previous two matches. “Tonight was no different. I felt like I had chances, and I could’ve won that match and just didn’t. He’s a top-10 player for a reason.”

In the first set, Blake held a 4-2 lead and later had a chance to close out the set. He won 72 percent of his first serve points and won 50 percent of the total points.

But he couldn’t stop Tsonga’s serve, and eventually lost a set that he could have easily won.

“The difference was free points on serves,” Blake said. “He’s got a bigger serve than me, but I didn’t do a very good job of making more serves and getting free points on him. That was the difference today. Otherwise, I think we played pretty even.”

In the second set, Blake won the first game before Tsonga won the next four, eventually closing out the match.

This was the first time in two years Blake has made in appearance at Indian Wells. Two years ago he was ousted by Andy Roddick in the second round. Some may have wondered if he would return to the BNP, or if the once popular player had become a faded memory.

He hopes that’s not the case, and said he plans to make future appearances at Indian Wells.

And not just a cameo. Blake wants to show that he still has a lot of tennis left in him.

“I know in my own heart I can pay with these guys,” he said, “and I definitely feel like I still have the ability to be successful.”